System for carrying a portable item of equipment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a carrying system for carrying a portable item of equipment, said system comprising a cord forming a loop, and a member placed on the loop and provided with first retaining means for retaining a portion of the loop. The system is in the form of a double loop when a portion of the cord in the loop is retained by the first retaining means. It is thus possible to reduce the aperture of the loop so as to make it about four times smaller. The loop of the carrying system can thus selectively be placed around the neck or around the wrist of a user. The carrying system of the invention may serve to carry a portable item of equipment such as a mobile telephone, an electronic diary, or an organizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Document FR-A-2 661 662 describes a portable item of equipmenthaving a housing provided with two parallel slideways formed on oppositeedges of the housing. A fastening system is fixed in removable manner tothe housing. The fastening system is either a wrist strap that fixesaround the wrist of the user, or a neck strap that is placed around theneck of the user.

[0002] Document GB-A-2 266 452 describes a carrying system for carryinga portable item of equipment. That carrying system has a wrist strap anda belt clip formed in integral manner. A chain detachably connects thecarrying system to the portable item of equipment.

[0003] Document CH-A-665 327 G describes a device for attaching a wriststrap to a watch case. A tie is fixed to the case via one of its ends toform a loop around a wrist. The case has a pillar around which the tieis wound to set the size of the loop formed by the tie.

[0004] Those devices suffer from drawbacks. They do not make it possibleto obtain different sizes of loop with the same cord for the purpose ofadapting the fixing so as to suit needs. In particular, those systems donot make it possible to use the same system to attach a portable item ofequipment around a user's neck or wrist depending on what the userwants. In addition, those devices are complicated and are not easy toadjust.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] There is therefore a need for a system for carrying a portableitem of equipment that makes it possible, for example, to attach aportable item of equipment selectively either to the neck or to thewrist of a user. It is also desirable for a carrying system of this typeto be compact.

[0006] The invention thus provides a carrying system for carrying aportable item of equipment, said system comprising a cord forming aloop, and a member on the loop, retaining two strands of the cord toform a closed loop defining an aperture. The member is provided withfirst retaining means suitable for retaining a portion of the closedloop, so as to form a closed double loop, thereby reducing the aperture.

[0007] In a variant, the carrying system further comprises secondretaining means, the cord co-operating with the second retaining meansto form the closed loop.

[0008] In another variant, at least one strand of the cord is mounted toslide relative to the second retaining means.

[0009] In yet another variant, the member has locking means forpreventing said strand of the cord from sliding.

[0010] In yet another variant, the member is provided with a passagewayof cross-section suitable for preventing said strand of the cord fromsliding when a force less than a predetermined force is applied to thecord.

[0011] It is also possible to make provision for the cross-section ofthe passageway to be smaller than the cross-section of said strand ofthe cord.

[0012] In a variant, the member has a fastening suitable for retaining aportable item of equipment.

[0013] In yet another variant, the fastening comprises a second cordportion opposite from the loop, and a part fixed to the second cordportion to form a fastening loop for fastening to a portable item ofequipment.

[0014] In yet another variant, the first retaining means comprise acatch provided with a groove of width less than the cross-sectionalwidth of the cord.

[0015] In yet another variant, the cord has a length greater than about40 centimeters (cm).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appearon reading the following description of embodiments of the inventiongiven by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying system in an embodimentof the invention, forming a loop that is placed around the neck;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying system of FIG. 1,forming a double loop that is placed around the wrist;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carrying system in anotherembodiment of the invention;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a section view of a carrying system body making itpossible to set the adjustment of the carrying system; and

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carrying system in yet anotherembodiment of the invention.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention proposes a carrying system for carrying aportable item of equipment. The carrying system comprises a cord forminga loop and a member placed on the loop and having first retaining meansfor retaining a portion of the loop. The system is in the form of adouble loop when a portion of the cord in the loop is retained by thefirst retaining means. It is thus possible to reduce the aperture of theloop so that it is made about four times smaller. The loop of thecarrying system can thus be placed selectively around the neck or aroundthe wrist of a user.

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying system in an embodimentof the invention. The carrying system 1 has a member formed of a body 2having first retaining means 3 for retaining the loop. Second retainingmeans 12, 13, 14, and 15 for retaining the loop are provided in thebody. A cord 4 forms a single loop by default. A fastening 5 makes itpossible to attach a portable item of equipment 6 to the body 2.

[0024] In FIG. 1, the cord 4 forms an open single loop. The loop isclosed by means of the member 2.

[0025] The body 2 retains the cord 4. In the example shown in thefigure, the body 2 retains two strands of the loop. In this embodiment,the body makes it possible to close the loop and to retain said loop. Inthis configuration, the loop has an aperture that is large, so that, forexample, it can be placed around the neck of a user.

[0026] Provision may also be made for the cord to form a closed firstloop, e.g. by means of a knot tied between two strands of the cord, anda second loop, inside the first loop and closed by means of the member2, the second loop defining the aperture.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, in order to adapt the size of the aperture ofthe loop, in particular to be able to place the loop around the wrist ofa user, and to ensure that the carrying system is retained properly bythe user, the first retaining means for retaining the loop comprise acatch 3. This catch makes it possible to form a closed double loopbetween the cord 4 and the body 2. The cord 4 is placed in the catch 3which thus retains a portion of the cord. The loop is thus doubled, andit then has an aperture that is substantially four times smaller.

[0028] In addition, the loop is folded over in this configuration. Thesize of the aperture of the double loop is thus made smaller without theloop projecting from the wrist of the user.

[0029] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a catch in the form ofa hook that projects relative to the body. The hook faces away from theloop, towards the other side of the body. Thus, when the user is wearingthe double loop on the wrist, the user exerts a tension force on thecord 4. This force holds the cord 4 in position as fully inserted in thehook. The loop is thus held in a position in which it forms a doubleloop.

[0030] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows a body 2 provided with ahook 3 whose top surface 7 is in alignment with the top surface 8 of thebody. In this embodiment, the hook 3 holds the cord better. In addition,the hook 3 does not project relative to the top surface 8 of the body.The risk of a garment worn by the user being damaged by the hooksnagging on it is thus reduced.

[0031] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 show catches in the form ofhooks, but the catches may be formed differently, e.g. by providing agroove in the body, in which groove the cord is slidably received. It isalso possible to provide a compressible cord whose cross-section islarger than the width of a groove in the body. the cord is thus deformedwhen it is inserted into the groove, thereby generating a force thatholds the cord in the groove.

[0032] To form a loop that is long enough to fit selectively around theneck or around the wrist of a user, it is preferable for the cord 4 tohave a length greater than the average neck size of an adult person. Thecord preferably has a length longer than about 40 cm. The cord 4advantageously has a length greater than 60 cm. It is thus possible toform a loop that is long enough to be placed around the neck of oraround the wrist of an average adult user. It is also possible to use anelastic cord to enable the loop to be enlarged as it is being placedaround the neck or around the wrist of the user. It is also desirable touse a cord of length shorter than 90 cm to obtain a carrying system thatis of small size.

[0033] It is also possible to make provision for additional adjustmentof the size of the loop, e.g. by using a cord that slides relative tothe body, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. For example, the cord may projectrelative to the body on the side opposite from the loop. The user canthen pull on the cord to cause it to slide relative to the body, therebyreducing the size of the loop. The size of the loop are thus adjustedwith more precision. It is also possible to form a body on which one endof a cord is stationary, while the other is slidably mounted. It is thuspossible adjust the loop while simplifying the body.

[0034] It is possible to set the size of the loop by preventing the cordfrom sliding by deforming it. FIG. 4 is a section view of an example ofa body that makes it possible to hold the cord stationary by deformingit. The dashed lines represent the cord 4. The body has two cord inlets12 and 13, and one cord outlet 16. The inlets 12 and 13 are connectedvia respective ducts 14 and 15 to the outlet 16. The ducts are ofcross-section smaller than the cross-section of the cord. A force thatdeforms the cord in the ducts 14 and 15 thus holds the cord in the body.The adjustment of the size of the through cross-section of the loop isthus locked. The two strands of the cord project relative to the outlet,and, as described above, make it possible to adjust the aperture of theloop. The user can exert sufficient force on the cord to cause it toslide relative to the body.

[0035] It is also possible to use other means for preventing thesliding, such as a pusher urged by a spring, preventing the cord frommoving in the body when the pusher is not urged by the user.

[0036] The fastening 5 makes it possible to attach a portable item ofequipment 6 to the body 2. The fastening may comprise a ring 9 placed onthe body and a chain 10 secured to the ring. For example, the chain maybe secured to a ring 11 provided on the portable item of equipment 6.

[0037] In a variant of the invention, the portable item of equipment isfixed to the portion of cord projecting relative to the outlet 16 of thebody.

[0038] The carrying system of the invention may serve to carry aportable item of equipment such as a mobile telephone, an electronicdiary or an organizer.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the carrying system has a cordmounted to slide relative to the body 2. The two strands of the cordproject relative to the side opposite from the loop that is organized togo around the neck of the user. A part 17 is mounted in stationarymanner on the two strands of the cord. A fastening loop 18 for fasteningto an item of portable equipment is secured to the part 17. For example,the fastening loop 18 may be slid in a corresponding fastening on aportable item of equipment, such as a clasp. The fastening loop thusmakes it possible to maintain an item of portable equipment attached tothe carrying system. For example, the part 17 makes it possible todefine a fastening loop 18 of small size to limit the movement of theportable item of equipment over said fastening loop.

[0040] The present embodiments and examples should be considered asgiven by way of non-restricting illustration, and the invention is notlimited to the details given herein. Rather, it may be modified whileremaining within the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, itis possible, also while remaining within the ambit of the invention, toreplace the cord with a flexible strip. It is also possible to use firstretaining means or a catch and a cord that make it possible to form atleast a triple loop.

1. A carrying system for carrying a portable item of equipment, saidsystem comprising: a cord forming a loop; and a member on the loop,retaining two strands of the cord to form a closed loop defining anaperture; wherein the member is provided with first retaining meanssuitable for retaining a portion of the closed loop, so as to form aclosed double loop, thereby reducing the aperture.
 2. The carryingsystem of claim 1, wherein the first retaining means comprise a catchprovided with a groove of width less than the cross-sectional width ofthe cord.
 3. The carrying system of claim 1, further comprising secondretaining means, the cord co-operating with the second retaining meansto form the closed loop.
 4. The carrying system of claim 3, wherein atleast one strand of the cord is mounted to slide relative to the secondretaining means.
 5. The carrying system of claim 4, wherein the memberhas locking means for preventing said strand of the cord from sliding.6. The carrying system of claim 5, wherein the member is provided with apassageway of cross-section suitable for preventing said strand of thecord from sliding when a force less than a predetermined force isapplied to the cord.
 7. The carrying system of claim 6, wherein thecross-section of the passageway is smaller than the cross-section ofsaid strand of the cord.
 8. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein themember has a fastening suitable for retaining a portable item ofequipment.
 9. The carrying system of claim 8, wherein the fasteningcomprises: a second cord portion opposite from the loop; and a partfixed to the second cord portion to form a fastening loop for fasteningto a portable item of equipment.
 10. The carrying system according toclaim 1, wherein the cord has a length greater than about 40 cm.